J-1 exchange visitors (including research scholars, professors, short-term scholars, student interns, and others) should be prepared to show the following when re-entering the U.S.

• Unexpired passport, valid at least six months into the future and ideally for the entirety of your J-1 program (as indicated on your DS-2019)
• Unexpired J-1 visa issued for your Brown program (must be valid on the day of entry to the U.S.) - Canadian citizens are exempt from the visa requirement
• Valid and unexpired Form DS-2019 issued by Brown University,
  • If you are traveling after making your initial arrival in the U.S., your DS-2019 must be validated for travel by ISSS (or your J-1 sponsor, if not Brown), as indicated in the ‘Travel Validation’ signature on page 1
  • Contact ISSS at oisss@brown.edu to arrange an appointment to get a travel validation signature, if needed
• Printout of your I-901 SEVIS fee payment receipt

Strongly Recommended:

• Brown Appointment Letter, Invitation letter (student interns, ICERM participants, Library Fellows) and/or Hospital Employment Letter (if working at an affiliated hospital)
• Financial documents (if submitted when applying for your DS-2019 and J-1 visa), including bank statements, scholarship letters, sponsor letters, etc.
• Form DS-7002 Training Internship Placement Plan (J-1 student interns only) detailing your internship at Brown

J-2 Dependents

J-2 dependents (including the legal spouse and/or unmarried children under 21) may accompany the J-1 exchange visitor at the same time or come to the U.S. at a later date. In general, J-2 dependents must also have the following:

• a valid passport
• their own J-2 Form DS-2019 validated for travel
• a valid J-2 entry visa

J-2 dependents should also carry copies of the J-1's immigration documents (as listed above), if traveling separately from the J-1 dependent.

J-2 dependents are not required to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee and would not need to provide a I-901 SEVIS fee receipt.

Employees in H-1B or O-1 status should be prepared to present the following documents when re-entering the U.S.

• Unexpired passport, valid at least six months into the future and ideally for the entirety of your H-1B or O-1 program (as indicated on your I-797 approval notice)
• Unexpired H-1B or O-1 entry visa issued for your H-1B or O-1 sponsorship (must be valid on the day of entry to the U.S.) - Canadian citizens are exempt from the visa requirement
• Form I-797A approval notice showing your H-1B or O-1 approval dates for Brown University or an affiliated hospital/OSRI
• Certified Labor Condition Application (H-1B only) approved for your sponsored H-1B position (given to you in hard copy along with your Form I-797 H-1B approval notice)
• Employment verification letter from the HR Service Center (for Brown employees) or the HR of your affiliated employer, and recent pay statements (at least three months)

Strongly Recommended:

• Copy of Form I-129 petition submitted by ISSS for your H-1B or O-1 request and given to you in hard copy along with your H-1B or O-1 Form I-797 approval notice
• Original appointment or job offer letter from Brown and/or your affiliated employer

H-4 or O-3 Dependents

H-4 or O-3 dependents of H-1B and O-1 employees may accompany the principal employee at the same time or come to the U.S. at a later date. In general, dependents must have the following:

• a valid passport
• a valid H-4 or O-3 visa
• proof of legal marriage (spouses) or parental relationship (children)
• copies of the H-1B or O-1's immigration documents, especially if traveling separately from the principal employee

Employees in E-3 (Australian specialty occupation workers) status should be prepared to present the following when re-entering the U.S.

• Unexpired passport, valid at least six months into the future and ideally for the entirety of your E-3 program (as indicated on your Labor Condition Application)
• Unexpired E-3 entry visa issued for your E-3 sponsorship (must be valid on the day of entry to the U.S.)
• Certified Labor Condition Application for your sponsored position
• Form I-797A approval notice (only for employees whose E-3 status was extended while inside the U.S.; not for initial arrivals)
• Job offer letter from Brown or an affiliated employer
• Employment verification letter from the HR Service Center (for Brown employees) or the HR of your affiliated employer, and recent pay statements (at least three months)

E-3 Dependents

Dependent family members (including the legal spouse and/or unmarried children under 21) of E-3 employees are eligible for dependent E-3 status. They must carry the following documents when entering the U.S.:

• a valid passport
• a valid E-3 visa
• proof of legal marriage (spouses) or parental relationship (children)
• copies of the E-3 worker's immigration documents, especially if traveling separately from the principal employee

Employees in TN status should be prepared to present the following documents when re-entering the U.S.

• Unexpired passport, valid at least six months into the future and ideally for the entirety of your TN activity
• Unexpired TN-2 entry visa (Mexican citizens only)
• Educational and Professional Credentials (diploma, transcripts, licenses) required for your TN profession, per Chapter 16, Appendix 2 of the USMCA
• Employment verification letter from the HR Service Center (for Brown employees) or the HR of your affiliated employer, and recent pay statements (at least three months)

TD Dependents

Dependent family members (including the legal spouse and/or unmarried children under 21) of TN employees are eligible for dependent TD status. They must carry the following documents when entering the U.S.: 

• a valid passport
• a valid TD visa (citizens of Canada are exempt from the visa requirement)
• proof of legal marriage (spouses) or parental relationship (children)
• copies of the TN professional's immigration documents, especially if traveling separately from the principal TN employee

As you prepare to return to the U.S., it is important to take steps to prepare for arrival, where you will go through immigration inspection with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer.

• Be sure you have reviewed the information above regarding required and recommended documents for re-entry. Double check to make sure that you have everything you need.
• Carry your documents in your carry-on bag. Do not put them into your checked luggage!
• Check travel conditions on your route for any unexpected delays due to weather or other factors.
• Keep backup copies of your important immigration documents in a safe but accessible location, in case they are accidentally lost or stolen while you are traveling.
• Have emergency contact information on a card or piece of paper stored in your carry-on bag (i.e., not only on your phone), and let family or friends know about your travel plans, including your estimate arrival back in the U.S.
• If you are driving over the U.S. / Canada or U.S. Mexican border, review information about your intended border crossing and be prepared to pay a Form I-94 fee (currently $30) in addition to showing your required documents.

While entry into the U.S. (even if you have a valid visa) is never guaranteed, international scholars and employees arrive in the U.S. successfully every day! Understanding the following points will help you be prepared when you arrive and go through U.S. customs and immigration inspection, which is managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

• Be clear about your purpose of coming to the U.S. When you arrive in the U.S. and go through immigration inspection, keep in mind that the documents you present and the answers you provide to questions must show that you are in fact coming to the U.S. for purposes consistent with your nonimmigrant visa. Understanding the purpose, requirements, and limitations of your visa is critical for the immigration inspection process.
• Be clear, concise, and polite when answering questions. Throughout the immigration inspection process, it is important to be calm and professional. Focus on providing clear, accurate, but concise answers to questions.
• Read through CBP’s electronic device search policy, including the possibility that your social media accounts may be inspected as a part of your visa application and upon arrival to the U.S. While you may refuse to grant permission to CBP to search your devices, they may choose to refuse admission into the U.S.
• Understand the restrictions on employment associated with your visa, and that any on-line or written evidence of unauthorized employment (i.e., employment outside of what your visa permits) may be grounds for denying your entry into the U.S.
• Understand the inspection process. When you arrive at a U.S. airport, you'll first go through primary inspection. In certain cases, you may have to be referred to secondary inspection.
  • In primary inspection, a CBP officer will examine your passport, visa, and other supporting documents. You may also have your photo and fingerprints taken. In many cases will be asked a few questions about your reasons for coming to the U.S., your research and work, and other details. The primary inspector will then either allow you to enter into the U.S., or if they do not feel that they have enough information, send you to secondary inspection. Primary inspections are usually completed within a few minutes.
  • If you are sent to secondary inspection, you may face a brief or an extended wait, depending on different factors. Many secondary inspection visits are completed quickly, but in some cases, you may be asked detailed questions regarding your visa and immigration history, employment activity, any past encounters with law or immigration enforcement, research goals, or your internet presence and social media activity. These questions are used to determine if there are any considerations that are inconsistent or incompatible with being a non-immigrant student visa holder.
• Keep in mind that most international scholar visas are non-immigrant visas, which means that your purpose of entry is supposed to be temporary and that you will continue to maintain ties with your home country. Demonstrating intent to reside in the U.S. permanently may be cause for refusing entry. The primary exception is the H-1B visa, which allows for both immigrant and non-immigrant intent.
• If possible, arrive in the U.S. during standard business hours (M–F, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern Time). In different situations, CBP may call ISSS at 401-863-2427 to confirm your information.

After you have successfully cleared U.S. immigration inspection and fully arrived in the U.S., you must still verify your I-94 arrival information. This step should be done after each return trip to the U.S.  Read our Checking Your I-94 page for more information, or follow the details below.

Failure to verify the accuracy of your arrival information may have a significant and negative impact on your legal status.

• After arrival, print out your Form I-94 arrival record and confirm that the information on the form is correct.
  • The “class of admission” should accurately reflect your visa type, such as J-1, H-1B, O-1, etc.
  • The “admit until” date should be “D/S” (duration of status) for J-1 and J-2 exchange visitors. For others, it should reflect your approved H-1B, O-1 or other employment dates. If the “admit until” date is inaccurate or does not cover your enter appointment, contact ISSS immediately.
• Print out and carry a copy of your I-94 with you at all times while in the U.S., including when commuting to/from work or traveling domestically. Read our page on local and domestic travel for more information.